Richmond Thrashed But This Tiger’s Crowing

The Richmond AFL team may have come to a grinding halt on Sunday but Matt “Tiger” Grant did his bit for the species by accounting for the opposition in the opening race of the Victorian Cross Country League season.

Tiger, fresh from the Victorian Athletic League summer season, moved up in distance to easily account for a quality field over the 6.5km at Westerfolds Park. Grant, second across the line, stuck to his task and chased Mitch Cashion for the entire race to cross the line sixty one seconds behind Cashion. That effort made him an easy winner on adjusted handicaps from his co-marker Joel Donnar, also returning to the VCCL after the VAL season. Joel held a comfortable margin over master coach Mark Hipworth who edged out Adamo Traini for third place. Fastest time and fifth on handicaps was Mitchell Cashion with a very creditable time of 23.39 on the heavily grassed course. Cashion fresh from a victory at Stawell in the major 1600m event, The Herb Hedemann Invitation, should have no trouble taking over the fastest time honours from Michael Marantelli in season 2017. Olivia Findlay, winner of the final race in 2016, returned in fine form to finish sixth.

The race was named in honour of two former members Bob Charlton and Fred Grubb who were great contributors to the club over their long running careers.

This weekend the VCCL race on Saturday morning with a 9am start at Warringal Park Heidelberg for the Rendina 8km Handicap.